5 Furnace Maintenance Tips for Homeowners
Owning a home can be a wonderful benefit for many people but with homeownership comes home maintenance. With a properly-functioning furnace, the cold winter months can be made significantly more comfortable.
And furnaces often come without many questions. Until, of course, a homeowner is confronted with an expense or maintenance, and efficiency (so you don’t run up a huge energy bill trying to stay warm in cold weather).
Here are our top 5 furnace maintenance tips that we think every homeowner should know.
If you’re in the market for a new furnace, we give free estimates (and hassle-free service), anywhere in the Greater Edmonton Area. Get in touch.
Furnace Maintenance Tip 1: Have an HVAC Technician Service Your Furnace Each Winter
Routine service by an HVAC technician can help identify and fix small issues before they become bigger problems.
During a maintenance visit, the technician will check and test various components, ensuring your furnace runs efficiently.
Eliminating issues early on can extend the lifespan and the efficiency of your furnace. More importantly, regular checkups can potentially prevent mid-season failures which could leave your family cold and in a bind, waiting for a technician.
Tip: To get the most out of your furnace, schedule maintenance every year (every two years at the most), preferably before the cold season begins.
Furnace Maintenance Tip 2: Change Your Furnace Filter Quarterly
Check (and change) your furnace filter every spring, and check it every month while using the furnace (or your air conditioner).
Debris can build up faster in warm weather if your doors or windows are more frequently left open. Debris can also build up fast in cold conditions due to the tracking of mud or snow into the home on boots.
Tip: We recommend checking your filter every month and replacing it quarterly, or as needed.
Furnace Maintenance Tip 3: Vacuum Around Heat Registers and Return Airs
Vacuum around heat registers and return airs in your house, so excessive dirt isn’t being sucked into your duct system.
Keeping these areas clean can improve the air quality of your home, the cleanliness of your air filter (and possibly its lifespan), and ultimately the efficiency of your furnace.
Tip: Get your furnace cleaned in the fall around the time you start using it.
Furnace Maintenance Tip 4: Keep Your Furnace and Mechanical Room Clean
Keeping your mechanical room clean is good for your furnace and makes it safer for you (the DIY homeowner) or an HVAC technician to use the space when needed.
We recommend not keeping more than a few small tools and your extra air filters in the furnace room. Please don’t use it for storage.
Tip: Keep your furnace room clean for safety and overall indoor air health.
Furnace Maintenance Tip #5: Have Your Furnace Cleaned Professionally Every Two Years
For a second, think about all the dust & debris that ends up in your ducts throughout the course of a year.
We’ve seen it all! Money, cereal, dead mice, pencils… the list goes on.
That’s why it’s important to have your ducts cleaned regularly. A professional cleaning can extend the life of your furnace while improving the IAQ (indoor air quality) of your home.
Tip: If you have your furnace/HVAC system checked each year, your technician can keep you informed about the status of your components and recommend when it’s time to get your next cleaning.
Conclusion
In ‘Berta, we rely heavily on our furnaces during the winter months, so caring for your HVAC system is crucial.
By following these tips, you can get more life out of your furnace and likely save on energy costs compared to not maintaining your system.
Regular maintenance is one of the keys to keeping your home comfortable with your heating and cooling systems running efficiently.
For help with your furnace, give us a call at (780) 972-5333.